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Why the Galaxy S7 Edge is the ultimate smartphone

Let’s not dance around the shark pool. The truth – a truth many tech writers have already acknowledged – is that Samsung’s Galaxy S7 Edge is the ultimate smartphone. It’s not perfect, but it’s the closest thing to it right now. And why is that, you might ask? Let’s dive in and investigate.

A new hero

A few months ago I wrote that the Nexus 6P, in all its metallic glory, was the ultimate smartphone. At the time it was something of a minor miracle. But times change, and so does Android.

It was inevitable that a new phone would come along and upset the balance. While the Galaxy S7 Edge is no game changer, it's the best phone on the market right now. But it didn't just tick more boxes than every other phone. It stole the limelight and continues to surprise me for a different reason each time I come back to it.

The S7 Edge is for the discerning Android user. It's not cheap, though, at around $750 or more. Buyers of the new Edge really want one, rather than simply needing a new phone. It does more than make calls and load Google Chrome. I think it encapsulates years of engineering and design learning at Samsung HQ. It's the Korean manufacturer's most complete design expression to date.

Sales success

I won’t jump straight into the specs and features. We’ve covered them extensively in our review. But I will point out how the Edge (and also the regular S7) has sold well, proving that Samsung has landed on the winning formula that it had aimed for last year, but with limited success.

Samsung achieved a large market share bump in Q1 of this year. According to a recent report from TrendForce, Samsung had a 5.6-percent growth in market share over the previous quarter. TrendForce suggested that the S7 and S7 Edge were the main cause of the boost, with overall shipments up 2.5 percent over the same period.

Interestingly, all of the manufacturers listed in the report had little change in market share. Except Apple, that is. The iPhone manufacturer suffered a 6.5-percent drop in market share. Whether this was connected to Samsung’s growth or not is up for speculation, but I’d wager that more than a few Apple customers have now become Galaxy S7 Edge owners.

Art of refinement

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are both exercises in refinement. Samsung has stuck to the recipe it used with last year’s S6 devices but made minor improvements to what was already a good foundation.

With an improved TouchWiz design - with options to customize app icons and remove the app drawer - a 40 percent larger battery than the S6 Edge, a microSD slot and IP68 water resistance, there are many small but useful additions. There are also more customization options for the Edge display, making what could be two aesthetically pleasing, but otherwise useless, edges offer a better user experience.

It’s the small details that make the S7 Edge the ultimate smartphone. The attention to detail shows Samsung’s willingness to give customers what they ask for. And when you own one, it shows others in the community that you take the Android experience just as seriously.

Do you think the Galaxy S7 Edge is the ultimate smartphone? Let me know in the comments.

23 comments

As I was reading all the comments I was a little surprised to see all the support for the Note 4 but in total agreement as well. I have the Note 4 Edge and the S7 Edge. I love the Note 4 Edge side screen and the edges on the S7 are about useless as the screen blurs when you want to use it so I removed all data from The Edge and went to a third-party Edge called swiftly switch and it works much better.

I am in total agreement that the processor, chipset and Camera are better on the S7 but I don't think I should have had to give up the FM radio, the IR blaster, the 3D rotation of the home screens, the functionality of a good Edge, and the ability to replace my battery as well as have a removable cover on the back that makes it more easy to install a micro SD card and a lot less fragile.I like the fact that the S7 is water resistant but I think that they could build a water resistant rubberized casket into a removable back cover.

All that said, I'm still pretty much on the fence as I keep switching back enforce from one to the other I just feel for everything I gained there was something I lost. So to Crown the S7 the ultimate, I think not. It is lacking in too many features my Galaxy S4 is already had.

Omar I think you've made valid points for a fair argument. The S7 Edge is polished sophisticated feature rich, packed with power and a camera to rival the iPhone. At present I doubt if any other Android phone checks as many tick boxes as does the S7 Edge for the complete mobile experience. Micro SD IP certification and the VR experience as well. A real Samsung winner.

in belgium this phone starts at 699 euro or More . after 6 months you van buy it at 525 or less ! then you Have that touchwiz s... and its like buying a computer with No updates or you get them when All the rest already Have them. All this for a 699 euro phone ??i got the Nexus 6p and in my Mind this is the best phone you van buy . but this is my opinion .

I have had the last week with my new galaxy s7 edge and I love this phone so much. I have already recommended this phone to everyone I know. It's super fast sleek, not very heavy at all, the camera is quick and the pics are amazingly clear. I have owned a s3 s5 and now a s7 edge. This is by far my favorite model. Galaxy for life girl!! 💖

I knew I wanted a S7Edge when my S5 died but really did not understand why. Now I do It is so intuitive and beautiful and if one can love an inanimate object, I love my S7Edge. It surprises me everyday with a new feature I didn't know existed.

I don't really get the hype with the S7s. I prefer the the design way better of the G5 and the Mi5, although wish the latter didn't use the look alike Samsung button on the bottom. Anyways performance-wise they are pretty much on par. G5 lacks battery capacity, but it's easily replaceable. Camera from what I've seen is best on G5, especially in low light. So are people so enthusiastic about the Touchwiz or what is it about the sparkling, shiny S7s??????????

The S7 is an amazing phone, amazing CPU, Camera, Battery, Chipset. But I'd hardly call it "The Ultimate Phone" especially with the new Xaiomi and HTC 10Is it a good phone ? It is an brilliant phone but honestly Samsung is getting a lot of complains for lots of hardware issues and some software features were deleted since the s5 and note 4.If I could choose between the S7 and HTC 10 I'd get the HTC 10 without a blink of an eye

I dropped my first one from about 18" and it shattered like ice. The edge concept is not useful. I'll switch to the Note 6 unless Nexus releases something more appealing. The S7 Edge isn't s useful as my Note 5, but I agree with others. The Note 4 was the best yet with its removable battery and plastic backing.

it's the best that Samsung has done so far and one of the most fashionable phone's you can get, but "the ultimate smartphone" ...no, not for me I want the latest software regularly updated and would prefer practical hardware design, using materials like polycarbonate done properly, not really into glass and metal, it looks superb but it's not so good for practical daily use and handling..how long will it remain your ultimate phone probably a few months at best till Note 6 maybe.

Until they return all the features of note 4 and the S5 it can not be consider the ultimate phone. Like Storm said it is to fragile to make that cut. There is more to a phone than looks, and processor speeds. Yes they returned a couple of features but not all. Of all the phones out right now I think the Note 4 is king.

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